Communicative Strategies

'Communicative strategies' is an umbrella term for the verbal and otherwise communicative methods used before force deployment in the presence of an imminent threat.

These can be used to deceive, distract, intimidate or placate a threat depending on the demands of the situation.

Nonverbal Communicative Strategies
Much of our communication takes place without words needing to be exchanged, and as such many of our communicative strategies are thus nonverbal in nature. Nonverbal communicative strategies incorporate awareness and management of conceptual areas such as:
 * Body language:
 * Positioning
 * Stance
 * Direction of gaze and eye contact
 * Facial expression
 * Passive appearance:
 * ​Clothing
 * Haircut
 * Accessories and decorations

Verbal Communicative Strategies
While much of our communication is nonverbal in nature, the verbal aspect of our communication requires awareness and due consideration. What's more, when we consider how we are managing situations of conflict in terms of witnesses and accountability, we can use verbal communicative strategies in particular to make clear that our intention is not to fight and that we do not wish to participate in violence.

Interrogatives (questions) form a major element of our verbal communicative strategies, as they can be a great distraction tool in order to effect an escape.

Imperatives (commands) also form a major element of our verbal communicative strategies, as they can be highly useful directional tools in the conflict itself, and can be distracting or intimidating to an attacker if used correctly.